Memories - Ed Carey
Ed Carey is President of the Students’ Union. This is his Main story.
Now that I am President of the Students’ Union, the Main Building evokes thoughts of walking across the road for meetings with the Vice-Chancellor and for University Council. The walk from the modern and youth-inspired Union building to the commanding and impressive Main Building never fails to remind a sabbatical officer of who he or she represents, and the challenges of bringing about change in what is still a very traditional university.
For me, the building is the most iconic of all the University buildings. It is steeped in the history of the University and, wherever you look, you can see the changes that have taken place throughout the past hundred years. Throughout my time at Cardiff it has been incredibly useful as a place in which to hold society events. I have held many debates, film nights and auditioned for plays there, and so it has been instrumental for the social interaction and personal development of thousands of students over the past century.
Its location is quite perfect. Behind it is Cathays Park and the building acts as a spectacular backdrop, especially on a sunny day. It is an incredibly nice quirk that the Main Building is directly opposite the Students’ Union – two buildings of equal capacity competing for the attention of the students.
Its proximity to the Union has also made it the focus of many student protests and campaigns over the century. Some of these were won, and some were not but, without doubt, the location and significance of the building has played a key role in shaping students’ learning experience, both inside and outside of it.
Despite the fact that only a small minority of the students here will use this building for its primary function; many more will have a strong sense of attachment to it. It is symbolic of the University and I hope that the same can be said in 2109.